Umud Rahimoglu: “Before coming into journalism people should take into consideration challenges”<br /> <br /> On National Press Day our interviewer is Chairman of International Eurasia Press Fund, Press Council Deputy Chairman and Director of the International Press Institute’s Azerbaijan National Committee Umud Rahimoglu.<br /> Mr. Umud, how can you value the mass media situation on the eve of National Press Day?<br />
After regaining independence our mass media together with other fields speedily developed. It is natural because the media had played the significant role in gaining the independence. During this period our authoritative journalists were in the forefront of national movement. Therefore, this event was one of the factors which inspired the development of national media. At the present time there are ranges of problems in media which satisfies me and of course some that doesn’t satisfy me. Today our government is interested in the development of media and considerable works had been done in this direction and these processes are continuing now. I want to particularly mention the former president Heyder Aliyev’s decrees on abolishment of censorship, liquidation of newspapers debt to Azerbaijan Publishing House, his care and attention to journalists, etc; also he gave special value to journalists. Successor of his political path, the current president Ilham Aliyev had done numerous works for the settlement of media problems. And this process is continuing now. However, there remains numerous unsettled problems. Currently one of the main problems which most worry journalists is their socio-economic problems.
Recently your organization International Eurasia Press Fund together with Azerbaijan Press Council conducted the survey on learning of socio-economic status of journalists.
Yes, our organization together with Press Council with the aim to learn real status of journalists conducted the survey among mass media representatives. We achieved significant results, but on the other hand, the results make us to think seriously. For example there are journalists which get 40 AZN salaries for a month. It is also true that there are few journalists which earn 700-800 AZN salary. But we have to think seriously about the 40 AZN. How can a journalist live and buy a shelter with this salary? As a matter of fact, majority of them haven’t their own flats. Another fact which has come to light during the survey is that 93% of journalists had not been insured. These are not good indications. It should not be forgotten that it is directly a problem of editorial offices. During the survey it was clear that in our state no credits are allocated to journalists. But all of these problems have a solution. Together with the Press Council, analyzing achieved results we try to define what we can do to improve the situation in this field. Our State also keeps a focused attention on this point. As we know Press council jointly with state bodies prepared the program called «State support to the Mass Media”. This program will be realized in the nearest future. After that some problems will find their solution. But I am not supporter of this view that all problems should be solved by the government. We have to try to solve our problems by ourselves otherwise our free media will turn to parasitic institute.
Will “racketeer” newspapers benefit from “State Support to Mass Media” Program?
To my mind they will not benefit from this program. I hope press community will also take real measures against “racketeer” newspapers. I want to mention that there are negative sides in our journalism as in other different spheres of Azerbaijan society. Definitely shortcomings in other fields are more than in journalism, but everyone speaks about existing problems in journalism. It is natural. Because media is open to the society. That is why it is more spoken about “racketeer” journalists. I think our people before choosing journalism should take into consideration challenges. Professional journalists should know that they will not earn as businessmen. They have to live with some shortages. Journalist should keep his independence and purity in his work. Community should also believe to their independence, to their news and articles. This is one of the main principles of free media. Recently on my own invitation deputy chairman of TRT Istanbul Television Huseyin Bashusta paid a visit to Baku, we discussed these issues with him. He said unlike other professions journalists should refuse anything. That’s why journalists work consciously for long years gathering social capital thereafter spend these accumulated capitals for themselves.
Recently you were elected deputy chairman of the Press Council. How do you feel yourself in the new post?
I don’t look to this election as a post, I look at it as a work. It has increased more sense of responsibilities in me. I have always done my best in this area before being deputy chairman. I hope to do more works in this directions especially finding of solutions to the problems that I enumerated above together with my colleagues in The Press Council.
There is not a univocal opinion to Press Council activity in journalism or in society; there are dissatisfaction and satisfaction. Is novelty expected in your activities?
This is a normal. It is natural that there are different opinions about each organization, with the Press Council activity no exception. To my knowledge, the Press Council has significantly achieved the expected results. Before the council was established “racketeer” newspapers acted as freely as they want, but now their activity has been limited. Beside, the Press Council has done important works for our media. About our future works, we have new intentions and projects. Together with the new elected Executive Board of the Press Council we will implement all these.
You said that you had guests from Turkey. As we know there is yellow card system in Turkey which gives some privileges to journalists. How do you think, is it possible to establish a system like yellow card?
Yes, in Turkey exists the yellow card system. It is estimable. This issue was discussed in the Press Council. Also certain works have been done. However we have not achieved the complete result because there are some problems which prevent the implementation of this system. But it is expected to do corresponding works in this direction. Let me add, I want to congratulate the journalists and others working in this area on National Press Day. I wish them successes on the future development way of our mass media and Azerbaijan.
Source: 525-ci qezet, 22 Jul 2008. Translated into English by Nigar Baghir.